The holidays can be fraught with additional pressure and stress, sometimes overshadowing the Joys you're meant to experience with loved ones.
This happens to be my favorite time of year, and my inner child still wishes for everyone to keep a sense of Magic and Wonder in your hearts. In class, we are looking for and finding those magical moments in our movement, so how can we apply the same process to the outside world, when we are not dancing?
You can still be "in your body", without turning your EC on... Feel your feet on the ground, feel your hands on your lap, and take a moment to become present and mindful. Relax jaw, your shoulders, and feel your breath dropping into your belly...
Here are my personal thoughts on surviving and thriving this holiday season.
I would be remiss as an S Factor instructor if I didn't put taking care of your body at the top of the list. Continue to eat healthy and get rest as much as you can during these times. Indulging during the holidays is normal and fun, but avoiding excess sugar and alcohol outside of special events and parties is a good way to give your body balance.
Acceptance. It's a stressful time of year. The faster we accept it, the more we can embrace what is, not what "should be" and actually enjoy some of the hectic moments. Not all stress is bad. In fact, some stress can be healthy and energizing. Long term chronic stress is another matter. However, try to distinguish between the two when it comes to "holiday obligations" and accept that this month may be a wild ride. You may find you are having more Fun once you've accepted what is.
Stay Curious. If you stay open to magical moments, you will indeed find them.
Gratitude. Remember to be grateful for the abundance in our lives. It never hurts to take stock of all that we have, the tangible and the intangible. True abundance is not an inventory of things, but a state of mind.
When the stress meter is rising, take an adult Time Out, even if it's 5 minutes of SOLITUDE, whether that's at home, in an empty office, or in your car. Be silent and breathe. As I mentioned above, feel your feet on the ground, your body in your chair, hands on your lap, etc. This is called a Centering exercise... Breathe and become present and calm your nervous system.
Be careful not to over commit. Keep things Flexible. Can you say 'yes' to what you really do want to attend, 'no' to what you don't, or 'maybe' to an obligation. That little bit of flexibility in a busy calendar will go a long way for your mental health. Balancing your own needs and desires with obligations is an art form.
Do you enjoy staying home? Schedule a night in. Whether it's a night at home in PJ's with popcorn and a movie, game night with friends, put it in your calendar, and make it as important as your annual holiday office party. Give it a silly name that legitimizes the event.
Crowded Parking Lots: When it's hectic, I purposely park in the back of the parking lot, I park faster, I get more steps in, and I leave the parking lot with ease. Stop trying to fight everyone, Avoid the chaos - and save time.
Lastly, and this is a hard one for us females. You are not the manager of everyone else's emotions. Are you a mother, a wife, a partner, a friend, and the heart-centered person in your life? I am sure you are, and that's a beautiful thing. You can hold space, and you can be loving and supportive and listen, but it's not your job to carry all of it or fix it... Sometimes we confuse listening and caring for each other with fixing things. That's the masculine brain at work. We need to stop walking around with emotional tool belts for everyone in our lives. Leave that to our therapists and let that weight go. ;)
There is a wonderful website / blog that I've been visiting from time to time for years now: www.tinybuddha.com It has oodles of helpful information, articles and posts.
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